Virginia to Gays: Get Out of the State
The Senate passed by a veto proof margin a bill prohibiting same sex unions in Virginia and the recognition of those performed in other states. Right wing nut case Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) proposed the bill. Compatriot in bigotry, Sen. Kenneth Cuccinelli(R-Fairfax), said the legislation would prevent court challenges, but others say the bill is so broadly written it wouldn’t stand up in court.
The Assembly has already approved a resolution supporting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, and a bill allowing companies to offer benefits to same sex couples was killed earlier this year.
“Virginia has a long history . . . of standing in the door,” Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said, referring to the state’s earlier ban on interracial marriage. “We’re telling these people who happen to be gay, essentially, ‘stay out of Virginia.’”
Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) was concerned about the impact on businesses that would be reluctant to come to the state.
Find the vote here. Among those voting for the ban was the supposedly moderate Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites (R-Fairfax), who is proving to be anything but this session. She also sided with the right on the Senate’s budget plan.
The Washington Post’s Marc Fisher has a column this morning.
What If?
Michael Hardy And Jeff E. Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch – for my money, the best two reporters on the General Assembly beat – have a good summary of the politics of the budget process and the options if a deal isn’t reached by Friday.
House GOP Moderates Intimidated
Several House GOP moderates felt intimidated by Speaker Bill Howell yesterday when he barged into their meeting.
“Get Tough, But Not on Us”
Virginia is tough on crime, right? Former Gov. George Allen built prisons and abolished parole. Legislators love mandatory sentences. Well, except when they’re the perpetrators. A bill that would set mandatory sentencing guidelines for public officials caught embezzling was stymied in the Assembly. And they didn’t have the guts to record a vote. They did it on a voice vote.
“We may be going a little too far to try and help out with a very serious problem,” said Del. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem).
God forbid we should go too far in punishing crooked lawmakers.